function fade(elementId, fadeTime) {
	//speed for each frame
    var speed 			= Math.round(fadeTime / 100);
    var timer 			= 0;
    var fadeElement		= document.getElementById(elementId);
   	var opacStart		= (fadeElement.style.opacity) ? fadeElement.style.opacity*100 : 100;

    //determine the direction for the blending, if start and end are the same nothing happens
    if(opacStart > 0) {
		opacEnd	= 0;
        for(i = opacStart; i >= opacEnd; i--) {
            setTimeout("changeOpac(" + i + ", '" + elementId + "')",(timer * speed));
            timer++;
        }
    } else if (opacStart <= 0) {
		opacEnd	= 100;
        for(i = opacStart; i <= opacEnd; i++)
            {
            setTimeout("changeOpac(" + i + ", '" + elementId + "')",(timer * speed));
            timer++;
        }
    } else {
		opacStart	= 0;
		opacEnd	= 100;
        for(i = opacStart; i <= opacEnd; i++)
            {
            setTimeout("changeOpac(" + i + ", '" + elementId + "')",(timer * speed));
            timer++;
        }
	}
}

//change the opacity for different browsers
function changeOpac(opacity, elementId) {
    var object = document.getElementById(elementId).style;
    object.opacity = (opacity / 100);
    object.MozOpacity = (opacity / 100);
    object.KhtmlOpacity = (opacity / 100);
    object.filter = "alpha(opacity=" + opacity + ")";
}